Defense Minister

Murdered

YEREVAN, Armenia (Reuters) - Armenian

Deputy Defense Minister Vagram

Khorkhoruni, 47, was shot dead outside his

home in the capital Yerevan overnight,

police said Thursday.

The assailants were unknown. Several

cartridge shells were found at the site, but

the Interior Ministry press service gave no

further details.

The murder was the second of a

high-ranking government official in five

months. State Prosecutor Henrik

Kachatryan was killed on August 6.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan,

elected in March, has launched a battle

against corruption in the former Soviet

Caucasus mountain state of 3.8 million

people. Officials from several ministries

have been arrested.

Aram Sargsyan, a top aide to Kocharyan,

said by telephone the motives for the killing

were still unknown, but added the blame fell

on law enforcement agencies for failing to

solve previous high profile murder cases

over the past few years.

``Those who ordered the killing think they

can remain unpunished,'' he said.

Reut04:24 12-10-98